Awards Program - Midwestern Chapter
The Midwestern Chapter of ISA annually recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that have performed meritorious service in advancing the principles and practices of arboriculture and contributed significantly and unselfishly towards the progress of the Chapter. Award winners are recognized each year at the MW ISA annual conference. Awards are presented in six categories including:
AWARD OF MERIT: Recognizes outstanding meritorious service in advancing the principles, ideals, and practices of arboriculture. Granted only to members of the MW Chapter of ISA.
AUTHOR’S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Recognizes authors of outstanding publications, news stories, radio and television programs for sustained excellence in the dissemination of timely information pertaining to the field of arboriculture. The information provided must have impact on the Midwest chapter audience.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Recognizes an individual, group, company or agency that has provided a significant impact in the field of arboriculture during the previous two years. This award would be presented at the discretion of the current MW Chapter ISA President.
AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT: Granted to members of the Midwest Chapter ISA only, this award recognizes sustained outstanding effort or contribution to the advancement of ISA within the Chapter.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Recognizes individuals or groups who are not members of the Midwest Chapter who have provided outstanding or noteworthy service in promoting arboriculture within the Chapter. Recipients will have made material contributions to the advancement of arboriculture through research, field practice, promotion, invention or literature. They should have an ongoing interest and may include individuals, groups or organizations.
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP: Bestowed upon members of the Midwest Chapter that have contributed materially and substantially to the progress of arboriculture in the Midwest Chapter and have given unselfishly in their efforts to support and advance arboriculture.
In addition the Chapter presented the Arbor Day Gold Leaf Award. The Gold Leaf Award is designed to recognize an individual, organization, or community in the Midwestern Chapter area for outstanding Arbor Day programs or community landscape beautification projects. This is an opportunity for the Midwestern Chapter to recognize projects that have had an impact on a community or region with an international award. Projects should show an impact over several years.
If you know an individual or group that has performed meritorious service in advancing the principles and practices of arboriculture, produced an outstanding publication or media program, contributed significantly and unselfishly towards the progress of the Chapter, held a unique or noteworthy Arbor Day activity, or completed a significant community landscape project, this is a great opportunity to recognize your peers, associates, citizens or other individuals. All entries must be received no later than November 25, 2024.
For more information on the MW Chapter Awards, please contact Brian Houser, Chapter Awards Liaison. brianhouser@hotmail.com or (402) 444-5907
ISA Awards Programs - http://www.isa-arbor.com/events/awardsprograms/index.aspx
MEET THE 2023 MW-ISA AWARD WINNERS
Award of Achievement
Meridith McAvoy Perkins
Meridith has a passion for education and also serves as an adjunct professor at Meramec Community College. She reaches the community both young and old in ways that empower the next generation of arborists and urban forest activists. Being ISA certified, she is an example to others of what it means to be vested as a tree professional in her community. For the past 20 years, Meridith has dedicated her career to connecting people to trees in ways that transform both landscapes and lives. Thank you Meridith for your pride and dedication to advancing the field of arboriculture and the Midwest Chapter of ISA.
Presidents Award
Skip Kincaid
Award of Merit
Jacob McMains
When we think of advancement of practices, ideals and principles, we think of education; we think of outreach, leading by example. Jacob does all of these. He reaches out to both professionals and the community alike to stay abreast of current trends and technology. He stresses safety, stewardship, disease management, risk assessment and fire planning. Jacob assists with grant writing, construction oversight and tree protection as well as legal litigations. Jacob truly serves his community through his outstanding efforts. Recently, Jacob has collaborated with the Missouri Community Forest Council to host an educational event in Colombia MO. The goal was to give professionals a deeper look into the identification and management of advanced tree decay with current technology and best practices. Thank you, Jacob, for your dedication to the Midwest Chapter of ISA and the perpetuation of solid arboriculture practices in your community.
Author’s Award of Excellence
Rich Hauer
The 2023 recipient of the Midwest chapter Author’s Award of Excellence is Dr. Rich Hauer, Director of Urban Forestry at CNUC. Rich has authored or coauthored over 200 publications in relation to the field of arboriculture and the way trees impact humans and their community. He serves as an associate editor for the Journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greenspaces. Topics such as the Economic Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer (2012) to an article that looked into the relationship between environmental factors and the facial expressions of visitors during the urban forest experience (2020).
A notable 2015 textbook publication that Rich coauthored with colleagues Les Werner and Robert Miller, Urban Forestry, Planning and Managing Urban Greenspaces 3rd edition, has served professionals, educators and students alike in the world of greenspace management.
The passion for research and putting these ideas in publication ensures that arborists and community alike can share the new ideas and practices of today’s urban landscapes. Rich has shown to be a true educator and advocate for making this information available to help us all learn and grow.
Thank you, Rich, for your dedication to the Midwest Chapter of ISA and the publications the keep us informed of the new ideas and current understandings of trees in our community.
Honorary Membership
Mike Rood
Mike has been a loyal supporter of the Midwest Chapter of ISA through his involvement with the conferences as a speaker, exhibitor, sponsor and silent auction participant. He has been known to give the actual shirt off of his back when that was the size needed by the recipient, as well as emptying his wallet to a good cause with fun-loving shenanigans attached. Mike’s knowledge of tree species and cultivars has fueled the desire to learn in countless arborists, both young and old. The quality of trees grown at Pea Ridge Forest is classic textbook perfect. Whether it is just one tree or one hundred, Mike is willing to work endlessly with a client to make certain they are provided the right tree for their project. With Mike at the helm, Pea Ridge Forest’s door is always open for tours and hosting seminars. In addition to his support if ISA, Mike reaches out in our community by being involved with Missouri Community Forest Council and Saluting Branches. Because of Mike’s knowledge, combined with his humble and generous spirit, we are happy to award this very deserving arborist. Thank you, Mike, for your life of dedication to trees and the people that care for them.
Gold Leaf Award
City of Webster Groves Green Space Advisory Committee
Green Our City is a volunteer initiative that focuses on improving the community forest of Webster Groves Missouri by replenishing the population of trees that grace the city’s historic streets, avenues, and neighborhoods. The program calls attention to the city’s urban forest and helps reverse the losses of tree canopy caused by old age, disease, and development.
The Webster Groves’ Green Space Commission believes in the POWER OF TREES to transform their city. Mature trees increase property values, calm traffic, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide beauty for generations.
Interested residents submit an application to be considered for a free tree from the Public Works Dept. Homeowners are coached in tree care and provided the tools necessary for success. Once the tree is established, the City will take over the tree’s long-term maintenance.
To this date, the Green Our City Initiative has provided; 53 Right-of-way trees planted, 50 Webster Groves residents trained in tree stewardship, providing establishment care for new trees and 36 Volunteers engaged in tree plantings. This adds up to over 340 volunteer hours donated to the urban canopy of Webster Groves.
A big thank you goes out to the City of Webster Groves Green Space Commission, your dedication to community and their urban forest has shown great dividends in public education, engagement and environmental stewardship.
Honorary Lifetime Membership
Phil Pierce
Phil Pierce is a graduate of the University of Virginia Forestry Management program. He began working for the City of Omaha Forestry Department in 1971 and became City Forester in 1990 until his retirement in 2000. In 1977, Phil along with 28 other Charter Members formed the Nebraska Arborist Association, of which he served as President in 1984. Throughout his career Phil has been recognized as Arborist of the Year (2010), received the Branching Out Award for outstanding contributions to restoring Omaha’s trees, created Omaha’s licensing exam, hosted and led numerous educational events. He has also been an active Midwest ISA chapter member, ISA Certified Arborist since 1990 (cert #?), Chapter president in 2002, test proctor, and repeat conference presenter. Since retiring from the City of Omaha, “Forester Phil” continues to be an active practitioner of arboriculture as an educator, researcher, and consultant. His research interests include the biomechanics of fluids in trees, monitoring for tree pests and disease, and the annual change in phenological milestones in trees. For his lifetime of dedication to arboriculture and the Midwest Chapter of ISA, we are truly grateful and say “thanks Forester Phil” with this Honorary Lifetime Membership Award.